In reading Revelation 21 we see a glimpse of things so beautiful we cannot imagine them and whatever we imagine will pale in comparison. It’s worth reading. The glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. v. 23. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life. v. 27.

That last sentence sounds so harsh and then I thought of the video they showed last night on the news of the elementary school where 19 children and 2 teachers were massacred. They made sure the screams of the children were filtered out for the agonizingly long time it took for the many law enforcement officers to finally breach the room and kill the gunman. Those children saw evil up close and were terrified. That gunman lived evil and it took over his heart and mind. Those law enforcement officers experienced fear of that evil and couldn’t act in time to save those slaughtered. Is it any wonder nothing impure…no evil…will be allowed where God is? Would we want it to be?

Come, my children, listen to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord. Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. Psalm 34:11-14.

Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are – yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need. Hebrews 4:14-16.

As I thought about those kids and what they must have gone through, God reminded me He was there. He is with me. Together we mourned. There was such tender comfort in being with Him as we felt sorrow together…His grace to me in a time of need.

Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,” (Isaiah 65:17), for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death (Isaiah 25:8) or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” Revelation 21:1-4.

Those beautiful children will be able to walk and play and be loved in safety only God can provide and in surroundings so beautiful we can only wonder about. All things will be made new and how very grateful we can all be that the Creator God will create also new hearts in us. So from now on we regard no one from a worldly point of view. Though we once regarded Christ in this way, we do so no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come. The old has gone, the new is here! All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. 2 Corinthians 5:16-19. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8-10.

You know, when I read Scriptures about events that happened millennia ago, or about events into the future yet to be, I forget that right now, in this day and age, God is here. I can hear my washing machine, I can hear traffic outside, birds singing and when I tried to feel close to God in quiet, I couldn’t help but think but this present time is different. This is modern life with all it’s noise and busyness. God nudged me and reminded me He is here and present in this busy, modern world we inhabit just as surely as He was then and will be always. There is such comfort in that – that I hope and pray you search for and find. He’s here…take His hand and walk with Him.